Raymond van Barneveld celebrated fiancé Julia’s win after getting out of bed to beat Ryan Meikle

BAD Raymond van Barneveld has peppered the double bed upon rising from his sickbed – and his hopes have not been dashed.

Barney, 55, had a terrible bout of food poisoning after visiting a Chinese restaurant in central London on Monday night and there have been doubts about his condition ahead of his 30th World Darts Championship.

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But the No. 32, who is being watched by fiancé Julia Evans, avoided being knocked out of the second round at Ally Pally with a 3-1 win over qualified barber Ryan Meikle.

It’s the first time in FIVE YEARS that he’s finished in the last 32 of a tournament he last won in 2007.

The former Dutch postman has now pulled off a blockbuster third-round tie with world no. 1 Gerwyn Price after Christmas and Barney Army will have a strong voice for that.

It will bring back memories of their tussles at last month’s Grand Slam of Darts, in which Van Barneveld emerged victorious twice.

Van Barneveld said: “Ryan never stopped playing. In the first sentence I was like, when does this guy stop hitting his double 20s? A great player.

“Wow, what a great player. All credit goes to him. I’m so happy. I had to work hard.

“I went to a Chinese restaurant in Piccadilly Circus and lay in bed all day with food poisoning, me and my manager.

“I didn’t have good practice. I was very tired.

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“I had been working so hard all year and then all of a sudden we get this.

“You never know what you’re going to get in the shrimp crackers.

“My whole stomach was gone. This had been a nightmare. If I managed to play, I’m already happy. Playing like that, wow, it was a battle against myself, I had to show willpower.

“Julia was emotional, she knew what I was going through. We all went to bed today.

“I play well, I believe in myself. I have a week to prepare, take pills and relax. i love this game I wasn’t happy when I retired.”

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